Comparison of aortic valve area determined by doppler echocardiography and cardiac catheterization in 75 older patients with valvular aortic stenosis

In a retrospective study, the aortic valve area, as measured by Doppler echocardiography, was compared with that measured by cardiac catheterization performed within 1 month after Doppler echocardiography in 75 older patients (mean age, 76 years) with valvular aortic stenosis. The results of cardiac catheterization and Doppler echocardiography were the same in 33% of patients. The aortic valve area appeared larger on Doppler echocardiography than on cardiac catheterization in 31% of patients by: 0.1-0.2 cm² in 19%; 0.2-0.3 cm² in 7%; and 0.3-0.4 cm² in 5%. In 36% of patients, the aortic valve area appeared 0.1-0.2 cm² smaller on Doppler echocardiography than on cardiac catheterization. The Bland-Altman plot showed that 4 of the 75 elderly patients (5%) had disagreement between cardiac catheterization and Doppler echocardiography that was outside the 95% confidence limits.